Senior Proposal Writing Specialist

Company:

Highmark Inc.

This job supports the growth of the Organization's sales goals through the development of customer-focused, strategically-positioned sales messaging. The incumbent is responsible for the development, coordination, and timely response to complex RFIs/RFPs in support of local, mid-market and national sales objectives for current and prospective customers across multiple lines of business. Assists in determining the appropriate products, strategies and unique customized solutions to meet a customer’s specific needs.

Consults, engages and communicates effectively with all levels of the Organization, including executive management to write professional and persuasive proposals, executive summaries, white papers (through strategic research, market analysis and creative resources) for external clients, consultants, Partner Plans. Fully accountable and overall responsibility of projects end-to-end and ensures final product depicts the Organization's value, differentiators and resonates with key stakeholders.

The incumbent coordinates complex projects that influence the division's reputation with internal / external customers, and, relationships with national consultants and/or other Blue Plans. Additional responsibilities include participation in sales projects or initiatives that have high impact to market performance and success, assists in the training/development, and provides subject matter direction and guidance of lower level specialists. Identifies opportunities to maximize messaging efficiencies across the Enterprise and with plan partners.

• Develop, plan, research, write, edit, manage, and deliver complex request for proposals and information. Demonstrate subject-matter knowledge of all lines of business, products, and services in order to develop clear and concise messaging and provide subject-matter direction to complete projects and assignments. Solid knowledge of the Organization's distribution channels. Conduct market research, trend analysis to interpret and understand the needs of the customer in order to create a compelling, well-articulated value proposition that aligns the Organization's products/services with the customers' health strategy.
  
  Tailor product information and positioning to customize various sales strategies (via written and visual communication materials) with targeted, strategic solutions according to project timeliness. Provide quality review of messaging to ensure accuracy, consistency, appropriate position and competitive differentiation.

• Project manage for high exposure, critical impact projects related to sales activity and manages all phases of proposal process. Manage and lead kick-off, work with key stakeholders to drive client strategy and approach. Effectively communicate the RFP strategy to a network of SMEs, copywriters, and creative specialists, to ensure projects are completed in the same "voice," and reflect the strategy that has been developed with sales leaders.
  
  Organize, plan, and maintain project plan within tight deadlines. Manage multiple projects simultaneously. Anticipate roadblocks. Monitor and evaluate to deliver custom, differentiated, innovative solutions and value proposition proposals that are accurate, on message and brand, by specified deadlines.

• Facilitate strategic planning meetings with all levels of the organization to develop strategy, customized solutions. Includes proactive planning to advance leaders through strategic planning to develop central strategy for RFPs in advance of RFP, during RFP, and/or providing expert market intelligence on RFP trends. Communicate effectively and serve as trusted advisor/consultative partner internally (sales, subject matter experts, senior leadership, and externally (consultants, Blue Plans) to resolve problems, prioritize.

• Create, research, develop, write, and manage other sales information resources, including: executive summaries, white papers, factoids, case studies/testimonials, and other ad-hoc…